Apparatus for aligning shafts and the like



Aug. 25, 1970 D. L. TORLAY 13,525,153

APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING SHAFTS AND THE LIKE Filed July 51, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 TE=Z- I80 /8d 220 26a 18:

\ INVENTOR.

\- 20c DWIGHT L. TORLAY 1 u 20 MKM/ I I 22a 22b 15a Attorney Aug. 25,1970 TORLAY 3,525,158

APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING SHAFTS AND THE LIKE Filed July 31, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 5' m IDA. 'PE'BIEID- l/V VENTOR. DWIGHT L. T'ORL A Y MJM AHorney United States Patent O 3,525,158 APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING SHAFTSAND THE LIKE Dwight L. Torlay, Lawrence Township, Mercer County, N.J.,assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of DelawareFiled July 31, 1967, Ser. No. 657,311 Int. Cl. G01b 3/30 US. Cl. 33-18015 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for aligning oneelongated member with an elongated reference member. This apparatus hasa body which is self-leveling and seats firmly on either the referencemember or another member to be aligned therewith, an indicating deviceon the body for engaging and checking the alignment of the other member,a securing device on the body for securing the body to one of thereference member or the other member and engageable with a hook deviceon the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In order to couple together two or morepieces of machinery, it is necessary for the satisfactory operation ofsuch pieces of machinery to correctly align the adjacent shafts of thedrive and driven members of the two pieces of machinery. Theconventional apparatus for setting and checking the alignment of twosuch shafts, has an indicating-type instrument or dial indicatorgraduated in thousandths of an inch mounted on the base or referenceshaft and engageable with the shaft to be aligned therewith. One of theconventional mounting means for the dial indicator has included thereinthe use of magnetic base clamps. Another conventional mounting meanscomprises a hole drilled and tapped in the reference shaft for the stemof the dial indicator. A still further conventional mounting meansrequired the fabricating of a special clamp and the like. Suchconventional mounting means are not always satisfactory and requireconsiderable time to install.

Further, the different shapes and sizes of the various types ofcouplings increase the problems of aligning the reference shaft and theshaft to be aligned therewith. For example, a mill motor type couplingis secured on a shaft by means of a hexagon nut on the end of the shaft.Again, some couplings are secured on the shafts by bolted plates. Inanother case some couplings are forced on the shafts with aninterference fit. Also the shape of the particular shaft or coupling(i.e. flat, concave, convex or pointed) or the size of the particularshaft or coupling affect the alignment problem.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is the general object of this invention toavoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of andobjections to prior art practices by the provision of appara tus foraligning one elongated member with an elongated reference member, and animproved mounting means for such apparatus, which apparatus and mountingmeans:

(1) are simple and rugged in construction;

(2) provide substantially maintenance-free operation;

(3) are quickly and easily mounted on either the reference member or themember to be aligned with the reference member; and

(4) are adapted for use with all types of shafts and couplings of anysize or shape.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforesaid objects of this invention,and other objects which will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, are achieved by providing apparatus for checking the alignmentof a reference member and another member to be aligned with thereference member. This apparatus has a body provided with a plurality ofspaced legs for engagement with one of the reference member and theother member and for self-leveling and for seating firmly the body onthe one, indicating means mounted on the body and engageable with theother of the reference member and the other member, hook means on thebody, and securing means on the body extending around the one andadapted to engage the hook means to secure the body on the one.

Improved mounting means are provided for mounting the indicating meanson the apparatus. The mounting means has a body provided with aplurality of spaced legs for engagement with one of the reference memberand the other member, and for self-leveling and for sealing firmly thebody on the one, hook means on the body, and securing means On the bodyextending around the one and adapted to engage the hook means to securethe body on the one.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS For a betterunderstanding of this invention reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicatesimilar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a reference shaft on the leftand a shaft to be aligned with the reference shaft on the right, and theapparatus for checking the vertical alignment and horizontal alignmentof such shafts and utilizing a side mounting hole in the body of theapparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the body of the apparatus shown inFIG. 1 taken along the line lIII of FIG. 1 in the direction of thearrows;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the body of the apparatus with the hookmeans, tensioning means and the securing means removed for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a rod-clamping device taken alongthe lines IVIV of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a rod-clamping device;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing use of the top mounting holein the body of the apparatus for checking the alignment of a referenceshaft having a smaller diameter than the other shaft;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing use of the front mounting holein the body of the apparatus for checking the horizontal alignment of aworkpiece in a milling machine with a rotary cutter of such millingmachine;

FIGS. 8A-8B are bottom views similar to FIG. 3 of alternativeembodiments of the legs of the body of the apparatus;

FIGS. 9A-9C are side elevational views of alternative embodiments of thebody of the apparatus; and

FIGS. 10A10E are fragmentary side elevational views similar to FIG. 2 ofalternative embodiments of the securing means and hook means.

Although the principles of this invention are broadly applicable to thealignment of an elongated reference member of one machine and anotherelongated member of another machine, this invention is particularlyadapted for use in conjunction with the alignment of shafts, couplingsand the like and hence it has been so illustrated and will be sodescribed.

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION With specific reference to the form of thisinvention illustrated in the drawings, and referring particularly toFIGS. 1 and 2, the improved apparatus of this invention for checking thealignment of a reference member (such as a reference shaft and anothermember (such as the shaft 12 to be aligned with the reference shaft 10)is indicated by the reference numeral 14 (FIG. 1).

This apparatus 14 (FIG. 1) has a body 16 (FIGS. 1-2) provided with aplurality of spaced legs, such as the legs 18:1, 18b, 18c (FIGS. 1-3)arranged in a tripod and having flat surfaces 20a, 20b, 200 respectively(FIGS. 2-3) for engagement with flat planar surfaces and inclinedsurfaces 22:1, 221), 220 respectively (FIGS. 2-3) forming a V-block forengagement with curved surfaces (i.e. concave or convex) or pointedsurfaces. The body 16 (FIG. 1) engages one of the reference shaft 10 andthe other shaft 12 (in this case the reference shaft 10) forselfleveling the apparatus 14 and for seating the apparatus 14 on thereference shaft 10. A clearance recess 18:1 (FIGS. 2-3) between the legs18a, 18b, 180 is adapted to receive pointed surfaces.

In order to hold the body 16 firmly on the reference shaft 10, securingmeans, such as a timing chain 24 (FIGS. l2) is secured to the legs 18b,18: by a pin 26 (FIGS. 1-2) extending from holes 26:1 (FIGS. 1-3) in thelegs 18b, 18c and between the legs 18b, 18c. The timing chain 24 iswrapped around the reference shaft 10 and is secured in a hook means,such as a hook 28 (FIG. 2). This hook 28 is connected by a link 30 (FIG.2) to a tensioning means 32 (FIG. 2) for tightening the chain 24 aboutthe reference shaft 10.

TENSIONING MEANS This tensioning means 32 (FIG. 2) has a rod 32:: (FIG.2) of square cross section connected to the link 30 on one side in thiscase the left side of the body 16, as viewed in FIG. 2, and passingthrough a hole 32b in a round plug 32b (secured as by welding in acountersink 16:1 of a hole 16b in the body 16) and the hole 16b. The rod32:: has a rounded threaded end 32b (FIGS. 1-2) eX- tending through theother side, in this case the right side as viewed in FIG. 2, of the body16. The square cross section of the rod 32:1 and the hole 32b in theplug 32b prevents rotation of the rod 32:1 with respect to the body 16but permits longitudinal reciprocable movement of the rod 32:: withrespect thereto.

In order to tighten the chain 24 around the reference shaft 10, aknurled nut 32c (FIGS. 1-2) is threadable on the threaded end 32b of therod 32a and bears against the right side, as viewed in FIG. 2, of thebody 16 to move the rod 32:1 to the right through. the plug 32b and thehole 1611, thereby tightening the chain 24 about the reference shaft 10.

For the purpose of adapting the body 16 for substantially universalindicating or checking use, such body 16 is provided with a plurality ofthreaded mounting holes (FIGS. 1-2) for mounting rods similar to themounting rod 3411 (FIG. 1) of a mounting means 34, such as a topmounting hole 160 (FIGS. 1-2), a through side mounting hole 16d (FIGS.1-2) to provide mounting on either side of the body 16, and a frontmounting hole 16e (FIG. 2).

As viewed in FIG. 1, the side mounting hole 16:1 is employed to mount amounting rod 34a for an indicating means, such as indicator dials 36a,36b for, in this case, checking the vertical and horizontal alignment,respectively, of the shaft 12 with respect to the reference shaft 10.

The structure utilized to mount the indicator dials 36a, 36b (suitablyof the type manufactured by the L. S. Starrett Company, Athol, Mass),and engageable with the other of the reference shaft 10 and the shaft12, in this case the shaft 12. to check the horizontal alignment 4 ofthe shaft 12 with the reference shaft 10, is a mounting means 34 (FIG.1). This mounting means 34 has the indicator dial 36:1 (FIG. 1) mountedby a screw 34b (FIG. 1) on a rod 34:11, which rod 34:11 is mounted bymeans of a rod-clamping device 34:1 (FIGS. 1, 4-, 5) on the rod 34:1.

For the purpose of mounting the indicator 36b to check the verticalalignment of the shaft 12 with respect to the reference shaft 10, suchindicator 36b (FIG. 1) is mounted by means of a screw 34b (FIG. 1) on arod 34:12 connected by a rod-clamping device 3411:: (FIG. 1) to a rod34:13, which rod 34:13 is mounted by a rod-clamping device 341111 on therod 34a.

ROD-CLAMPING DEVICE This rod-clamping device 34d (FIGS. 1, 4, 5) has apin 34:11 (FIG. 5) having a rounded end 341112 provided with a hole34a'13 for the rod 34:11, a straight sided mid portion 341114 of smalleroutside diameter than the rounded end 34d12 and a threaded end portion34:115 of still smaller outside diameter. A sleeve 34:12 (FIGS. 4-5) isprovided with a hole 34:121 (FIG. 5) registerable with the hole 34:113in the pin 34011 and a rectangular slot 341122 (FIG. 5) for receivingthe mid portion 34d14 of the pin 34:11 to permit integral rotation ofthe pin 34:11 and the sleeve 34:12. The pin 34:11 extends through a hole341131 (FIG. 5) of a split yoke 34d3 (FIGS. 1, 4, 5) so that the end ofthe mid portion 341114 of the pin 3401 may receive a straight sided hole341141 of a washer 34:14 (FIGS. 4-5). A hole 34d32 in the yoke 34:13receives the rod 3411. A knurled nut 34:15 (FIGS. 1, 4, 5) threads onthe threaded end 34:115 of the pin 34:11 to compress a spring 34116(FIG. 5) against the washer 34:14, thereby securing the rods 34:1, 34:11in the rodclamping device 34:1.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS It will be understood by those skilled in theart that alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, where a shaft 12 has alarger diameter than a reference shaft 10 a rod 34:14 of the mountingmeans 34 is mounted in the top mounting hole 16c of the body 16 Thehorizontal alignment indicator dial 36:: is mounted by a screw 34b on arod 34111 The rod 34a1 is secured by a rod-clamping device 34:1 to a rod34:1 which rod 34a is connected by rodclamping device 34:10 on the rod34a4. In turn the vertical indicator 3611 checks the vertical alignmentof the shaft 12 with respect to the reference shaft 10 and is mounted asexplained with respect to in FIG. 1 on a rod 34a5 in the side mountinghole 16d of the body 16 In FIG. 7 a milling cutter 38 of a millingmachine (not shown) is rotatable in the direction of the arrow on ashaft 40 and is engageable with the work 42 clamped at 43 on a travelingtable 44, which table 44 is reciprocable in the direction of the arrowson a bed or frame 46 of the milling machine. Here the apparatus 14 ismounted on the periphery of the cutter 38 and the indicator dial 3611for checking the alignment of the work 42, is mounted in a frontmounting hole of the body 16 A screw 34b secures the indicator dial 36bon the rod 34:18. A rod-clamping device 34:1:1 connects the rod 34a8 toa rod 34:17. A rod-clamping device 34de secures the rod 34:17 to a rod34119, which rod 34:19 is connected by a rodclamping device 3411 to arod 34:1 Such rod 34:1 screws into the front mounting hole 160 of thebody 16".

Referring now to FIGS. 8A, 9A, two legs 1811 18b are shown havingserrated fiat surfaces 20:1 ZGb for improved gripping on a fiat planarsurface (not shown) and serrated inclined surfaces 22a 22b for improvedgripping on curved (concave or convex) or pointed surfaces. The chain 24(not shown in FIG. 9A) is secured to lugs 26b (FIGS. 8A, 9A) projectingfrom the leg 18b by a pin 26 (FIG. 9A) extending through holes 26a inthe lugs 26b and between the leg 18b. In FIGS. 83, 913 four legs 18a 18b180 18g are provided with fiat corrugated gripping surfaces 20a 2%, 20c20g and corrugated inclined gripping surfaces 22a 22M 22c 22g. As shownin FIG. 9C the inclined gripping surfaces 22a, 22b 220 may be arcuate,either concave (FIG. 9C) or convex (not shown), and have a crosssection, such as an irregular curve, parabola, ellipse or hyperbola.

In FIG. A the hook 28 is provided with a resilient retaining member 48secured to the hook 28 by a screw 48a. The hook 28 is provided with aV-shaped end portion 28a. FIG. 10B shows a spring biased clamp 50connected at 30a to the rod 32a for use with a chain, metal or leatherband or an elastic stretchable rope 52. The clamp 50 has serrated orcorrugated jaws 50a, 50b and biasing spring 50c. Referring to FIG. 10C,an S-shaped hook 28 is employed with a metal or leather band 54 providedwith holes 54a. In FIG. 10D a buckle 56 having the tongue 56a pivotableat 56b engages a hole 54a in a metallic band 54 FIG. 10E shows a buckle56 pivotable at 56b on the link 30 and having bars 57 for use with aflexible plastic or fabric band 54 SUMMARY OF THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THEOBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It will be recognized by those skilled in theart that the objects of this invention have been achieved by providingapparatus 14 (FIGS. 1-5) etc. for aligning shafts 10, 12 and the likeand an improved mounting means 34 for such apparatus 14, which apparatus14 and mounting means 34 is simple and rugged in construction, providessubstantially maintenance-free operation, is quickly and easily mountedon either the reference member 10 or the member 12 to be aligned withthe reference member 10, and is adapted for use with all types of shaftsand couplings of any size or shape.

While in accordance with the patent statutes preferred and alternativeembodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described indetail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for checking the alignment of a reference member withanother member to be aligned with said reference member, said apparatushaving:

(a) a body provided with a plurality of spaced legs for engagement withone of said reference member and said other member and for self-levelingand for seating firmly said body on said one, said body being providedwith:

(1) a side mounting hole for use when said reference member has adiameter substantially the same as the diameter of said other member;

(2) a top mounting hole for use when said reference member has adiameter substantially different from the diameter of said other member;

(3) a front mounting hole for use when said reference member isreciprocable with respect to said other member; and

(4) a tensioning means hole of polygonal cross section;

(b) mounting means in one hole of said side mounting hole, said topmounting hole and said front mounting hole;

(c) indicating means mounted on said mounting means, engageable with theother of said reference member and said other member and for indicatingthe alignment of said reference member with said other member;

(d) securing means having one end secured to said body and extendingaround said one,

(e) hook means connected to the free end of said securing means, and

(f) tensioning means connected to said nuuk means for tightening saidsecuring means about said one;

(1) said tensioning means having a longitudinal member having apolygonal cross section, reciprocable in said tensioning means hole andconnected at one end to said hook means and a fastener member threadableon the other end of said longitudinal member and bearing against saidbody to reciprocate said longitudinal member in said tensioning meanshole without twisting said securing means.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said legs have a serratedsurface to engage said one.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said legs have a corrugatedsurface to engage said one.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1 and having two legs on one side ofsaid body and an opposed leg on the other side of said body.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1 and having two legs on one side ofsaid body and two opposed legs on the other side of said body.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said hook means is a hookand said hook has a retaining member.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said hook means is a springbiased clamp.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said hook means is anS-hook.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said hook means is a buckle.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said securing means is anelastic member.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said securing means is achain.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said securing means is aband provided with a hole.

13. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said securing means is aflexible band.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said hook has a V-shapedend portion.

15. Mounting means for mounting an indicating means for apparatus forchecking the alignment of a reference member with another member to bealigned with said reference member, said mounting means having:

(a) a body provided with a plurality of spaced legs for engagement withone of said reference member and said other member and for self-levelingand for seating firmly said body on said one, said body being providedwith:

(l) a side mounting hole for use when said reference member has adiameter substantially the same as the diameter of said other member;

(2) a top mounting hole for use when said reference member has adiameter substantially different from the diameter of said other member;

(3) a front mounting hole for use when said reference member isreciprocable with respect to said other member; and

(4) a tensioning means hole of polygonal cross section;

(b) mounting means in one hole of said side mounting hole, said topmounting hole and said front mounting hole for supporting saidindicating means;

(c) securing means having one end secured to said body and extendingaround said one,

(d) hook means connected to the free end of said securing means, and

(e) tensioning means connected to said hook means for tightening saidsecuring means about said one;

(1) said tensioning means having a longitudinal member having apolygonal cross section, reciprocable in said tensioning means hole andconnected at one end to said hook means and a fastener member threadableon the other end of said longitudinal member and bearing against saidbody to reciprocate said longitudinal mem- 7 bet in said tensioningmeans hole Without twisting said securing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,593,986 4/1952 Comstock 331742,429,923 10/ 1947 Cavicchi 33-169 2,155,705 4/ 1939 Gottwald.

8 3,244,392 4/1966 Sheets- 33-180 2,815,582 12/1957 Karstens 33l802,634,939 4/1953 Voss 33-84 US. Cl. X.R. 33-84, 180; 248231 Patent No.3,525,158 August 25, 1970 Dwight L. Torlay rror appears in the aboveidentified It is certified that e s Patent are hereby corrected aspatent and that said Letter shown below:

d seating Column 2, line 20, "sealing" should rea Column 5, line 1,cancel "and between the leg 18 Signed and sealed this 16th day of March1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Atlesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

